First Love, Last Rites

The filming of this movie is beautiful and well planned, however it doesn't make up for what, in my mind, the story lacks. At times the peculiarity of the events (and of Robert John Burke's failed attempt at a Creole accent) made me cringe. "How could anyone be so stupid?" I asked myself as Joey tagged alongside Sissel's creepy father. Other events that made me borderline-nauseous: the moontanning incident, the rat in the wall, the sex-on-the-pier fiasco. "The sex-on-the-pier fiasco" seemed to be Peretz's attempt to finally connect the dream sequences to something physically occurring in the movie, though in my mind, it failed miserably and I got a good hearty laugh out it. Besides the picturesque setting and great camera work, the only other redeeming qualities were Giovanni Ribisi (Joey) and Jeanetta Arnette (Sissle's mom). Natasha Gregson Wagner's Sissel seemed to a bit too psychotic for my tastes. Ribisi seems to have much talent, and Arnette's small role helped add moments of humor and excitement. See this movie for the acting/cinematography, not to be blown away.

I rented the movie because I already had the soundtrack and loved it. I was thinking "How bad can this movie be with a soundtrack like this?" Well.....it wasn't great. It moved pretty slow for me. It was just....there. It felt like I was just killing time watching the movie. The two main actors are much better than the roles they played. I wouldn't mind seeing the two of them together in a different, better movie. Guess you can never judge a movie by its soundtrack.

I rent a lot of movies. I enjoy a lot of the Independent and offbeat ones. But this one definitely was on my top 10 of hard to keep watching because it was soooo borrrring! Even though every other scene was sexually "titilating" I was disappointed. Don't bother!

FIRST LOVE, LAST RITES is a movie that I know people will be bored with. It is slow for some tastes. Life is slow. This movie is so true to life and it's pacing seems all too real. It's amazing it's a story not of plot but of documenting time. The story inspired a screenplay that I just finished Belmar. It has such a slow core to it and is so atmospheric. Bottom line THIS IS AN ART FILM. ("A movie simple enough for a child to understand with images strong enought for an adult"-Roger Ebert. Different people will react differently to this movie. It's for the art crowd and for film students. It's not for the average multiplex movie goer unless they get darring and wana try something new. I hope Jesse Perez makes another movie, the actors were great, well I am a huge fan of Natsha Gerson Wagner. It's a very steamy masterpeace that moves with the charactors and the atmosphere. I have no idea why this film didn't make it big. It sure is a discovery on video!

This is an excellent film, marked by nicely nuanced acting brought forth by a splendid first-time director. The screenplay, editing and cinematography are all first-rate. Wagner and Burke, in particular, master their roles. Ian McEwan's symbolism in the original story is nicely transferred to the screen. A strong feeling of tension keeps one fascinated until the ending.